Happen Meaning and Definition
Happen
Pronunciation
/ˈhæpn/
Part of Speech
Verb
Definition
A sudden or unexpected occurrence, event, or change.
Examples
- The surprise party happened on my birthday.
- The sudden rainstorm happened without warning.
Synonyms
- Occur
- Happenstance
Antonyms
- Prevent
- Anticipate
Etymology
The word “happen” has its roots in Old English, where it was spelled “hæppen” and meant “to fall or come out.”
Usage Notes
Happen is often used to describe sudden or unexpected events, and can be used in a variety of contexts, including casual conversation, writing, and speech.
Cultural References
The phrase “It happened on a Tuesday” is a popular song by the band Happen.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Happenstance, happenchance, and happen upon are common idioms that use the word happen.
Related Words or Phrases
Occur, turn, and event are words or phrases that are closely related in meaning or usage to happen.
Collocations
Happen is often collocated with words such as “suddenly,” “unexpectedly,” and “by chance.”
Frequency of Use
Happen is a commonly used word in modern language, and is often used in both formal and informal writing and speech.
Common Misspellings
Some common misspellings of “Happen” include “Hapen,” “Hapnin,” and “Happning.”